The Renewable Energy Policy in China - Literature review Example

 SOLAR ENERGY IN CHINA Introduction The maintainable and steady electric power offers the growth impetus of a nation’s industrialisation. It is recognised that China is the world’s biggest developing nation. With swift growth of society and economy, energy demand of the Chinese people is augmenting at an implausible speed. The yearly accumulative overall electric energy capacity in China is 0.1 billion KW and most of this energy is generated from fossil fuels. Apparently, this energy consumption in the country is not appropriate for sustainable development. As a result, the Chinese government and people support application and development of solar energy. They believe that the abundant solar resources in China can offer more electric energy in the country. This essay analyses solar energy policy in China, its background, aims and objectives, implications, accountability, communications and its outcome. Solar Energy Policy in China The renewable energy policy began in 1996 and was followed by the Five-Year of New Energy and Renewable Energy Development 2001, the 11th Five-Year Plan of Renewable Energy Development 2006 and the Long-Term and Medium Plan for Renewable Energy Development. The initial policy was aimed at lowering energy poverty in rural regions. Chinese is one of the global top producers of PV equipments and panels (Talamantes 2013, p.159). According to Kelly (2009, p.188), the People’s Republic of China signed the Renewable energy law in 2005. The law was aimed at trying to introduce measures to protect the natural environment, lower dependence on energy imports and prevent shortages of energy. The policy stipulates that operators of electricity power grid buy resources from approved renewable energy producers and renewable energy include solar energy, geothermal energy, marine energy, wind power and hydroelectricity. According to Liu (2012, p.1), solar energy is the prehistoric source of most of the energies utilised and exploited by humankind. Radiating across the world in the form of electromagnetic waves, the quantity of solar energy that gets to the earth is only ½.2 billion of the overall solar radiation (Liu 2012, p.1). If people can fully utilise solar energy, then the society will hold an infinite energy source. The solar energy space holds numerous advantages as it can produce electricity for twenty-four hours nonstop. The facilities for power generation can be bigger in zero-gravity environment and can be cleaner besides requiring less maintenance. Wong (2009, p.1) asserts that China requires to support energy development, develop renewable-energy resources, reduce pollution and enhance air quality. Trailing cheap solar energy would help in substituting energy generated through coal-fired power plants. The surging Chinese population and the current energy situation in the country are driving force behind establishment and implementation of solar energy. China holds a big population with plentiful natural resources (Liu, Wang & Xue 2010, p.303). The country’s energy consumption is highly dependent on fossil fuels. This unsuitable energy structure holds enormous effects on the country’s economy, energy security and environment. Currently numerous rivers have been polluted. For instance, nearly all the rivers in Shanxi province hold no fish; the water cannot be used for human or animal consumption because of pollution. As a result, the Chinese government has established energy policies to settle pollution (Liu, Wang & Xue 2010, p.303). The government promote the use of solar energy because of its environmental advantages. This form of energy does not diminish natural resources; it does not instigate emission of greenhouse gases; enhances water resources quality, and augments national and regional energy dependence, security and diversification of energy supply (Wang & Qiu 2009, p.2182). Aims and Objectives China is the global biggest consumer of energy with the cosmic mainstream of its electricity generated from locally –mined coal. However, China is reducing its reliance on coal, natural gas and oil substituting it with solar at a swift pace. The major reason that China is adapting the solar energy as one of the renewable policies is to ensure clean energy use that safeguards the environment (Leimkuhler (2010, p.1). Chocking pollution clouds from fossil-fuelled power industries and vehicles are the rule of scores of Chinese cities. The Chinese government wishes to ban the utilisation of coal by 2020 in Beijing. The main objective of the adoption of solar energy in China is to ensure energy development besides lowering damage to the environment and enhancing air quality. In addition, China’s national research and development policies that entail promotion of solar-energy demonstrators besides other national policies are driving force for adoption and implementation of solar energy. Leimkuhler (2010, p.1) confirms that China has established instruments and policies to lower emissions. The Chinese government focuses on energy efficiency and renewable energy. The country has set the target of augmenting its energy efficiency to lower environmental effects linked to fulfilling further economic growth needs of its population. The policy also aims at lowering energy intensity. Implications beyond the Policy Area or the Jurisdiction According to Liu, Wang and Xiu (2012, p.310), the Chinese central government has introduced some hortative laws and policies to enhance the inopportune energy organisation and sustainable development. The solar energy policy acts as an obstacle to economy and technology. The policy also acts as a barrier to PV markets and these obstacles call for powerful financing support and policy support from the local and central government. The conflicts amid different establishments within the Chinese government regard the renewable energy policy. Other sectors instigate inefficiencies that have blocked China’s development in the renewable energy sector. For this policy to be fully implemented to its full potential, the central government should create an empowered agency to control every aspect of renewable energy growth (Talamantes 2014, p.264). However, the renewable energy policy holds positive effects on the energy sectors and environment. According to Wilde and Defraigne (2012, p.261), China’s engagement in low-carbon energy sector and their swift growth is positive news. However, this development causes increased political friction because of the involved economic interests. The development of China renewable energy market has opened new market prospects for foreign firms. However, complaints regarding restrained market access, lack of transparency, unfair competition and forced technology transfer have sprung up. Accountability The renewable energy policy is among the series of norms, policies, laws and regulations that comprises of policy and legal blueprint in China for its low-carbon growth. The Renewable Energy Law that effected in 2006 and the Energy Conservation Law revised in 2007 offered a lawful blueprint for low-carbon growth. With the execution of the Renewable Energy Law, solar and wind power generated faced dramatic growth. In 2009, the standing commission of the National People’s Commission revised the Renewable Energy Law to augment support for grid connection for solar and wind power plants (Chung 2013, p.1). The novel Energy Conservation Law defined energy as a foundational national policy. Low-Carbon growth became an accord among the top leaders, Chinese central government and devotion for the future. President Hu declared that the country would actively grow toward a low-carbon economy (Chung 2013, p.1). Such powerful political devotion was mirrored at diverse levels of policy from eleventh FYP to a series of certain sectoral policies directed at enhancing energy efficiency and conservation. The central government is accountable for development and implementation of renewable energy policy. The government assisted in building capacity in local government to promote the growth of the energy-efficiency market through offering assistance and incentives to energy service companies. Other stakeholders responsible for implementation of the renewable energy policy include Leading Group on Climate Change and Leading Group n Energy Conservation and Pollution Reduction established in 2007 (Chung 2013, p.1). Others include the National Climate Change Expert Council and National Energy Expert Council. Leaders of local governments are held responsible for executing energy-conservation policies. (Chung 2013, p.1).Local governments, municipal and provincial leaders are also included in the plan and all these institutions have attested to be critical in reinforcing leadership in low-carbon development in China. Communicating the Policy The Chinese government and stakeholders in the energy sector promote health development of renewable energy through reliable and competitive systems of energy storage. The government and concerned organisations disseminate information via newspapers, TV, Websites, broadcasting and other channels of communication. Information about solar energy and other renewable energy is passed to the people of China through the press and media (Geller 2012, p.72). Outcome Through the policy, the government has improved control over emission of greenhouse gases in agricultural and industrial production and waste disposal. According to Boisgibault (2010, p.50), statistics indicated that by the end of 2010, the nitrous oxide emission in industrial manufacturing remained at the same level of 2005 while methane emission growth was under control. Carbon emissions per GDP are lowered by 17% percent. The carbon sinks capacity is increased to control emission of greenhouse gases. The policy holds great positive effects in lowering the demand of energy, energy-linked emissions because the policy promotes energy conservation and efficiency. Negative environmental impacts are also diminishing and Chinese are adapting alternative energy sources other than those based on fossil fuels. This means that the policy is working productively and has instigated clean energy use and environmental advantages to the developing nation of China Conclusion Fossil fuels resources provide the biggest number of energy. Energy is crucial for the contemporary industrial economy. Electric power has become requisite for nearly all human practices. As a result energy has become a strong engine for social and economic development to all nations. However, with depleting sources of fossil fuels expected to increase fossil fuels prices, and the need for sustainable development, the Chinese government has invested in new energy domain to overcome environmental pollution and increased energy prices through formulation of the renewable energy policy. The policy is working and has been production in lowering greenhouse gases emissions, hence a cleaner environment for people China. Reference List Boisgibault, L 2012, Carbon constraint in the Mediterranean, Louis Boidgibault, France. Chung, S 2013, Post-2020 climate change regime formation, Routledge, UK. Geller, H 2012, Energy production: Policies for a sustainable future, Island Press, UK. Kelly, R 2009, Energy supply and renewable resources, Infobase Publishing, USA. Leimkuhler, H 2010, Managing CO2 emissions in the chemical industry, John Wiley & Sons, UK. Liu, L, Wang, Z & Xue, Y 2010, ‘Solar energy development in China-A review’, Renewable and Sustainable Review, Vol. 14, no.1, pp.301-311. Liu, Z 2013, Electric power and energy in China, John Wiley & Sons, UK. Talamantes, M 2014, Energy security and sustainable economic growth in China, Palgrave Macmillan, UK. Wang, Q & Qiu, H 2009, ‘Situation and outlook of solar energy utilisation in Tibet, China’, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol.13, no.8, pp.2181-2186. Wilde, T & Defraigne, J 2012, China, the European union and the restructuring of global governance, Edward Elgar Publishing, UK. Wong, A 2009, The global technology revolution China, in-depth analyses: Emerging technology opportunities for Tianjin Binhai New Area (TBNA) and the Tianjin Economic-technology Development Area (TEDA), Rand Corporation, Beijing. Read More